# Experimental Primary Brain Calcification Model and Its Application to Pathogenesis Mechanism Analysis and Therapeutic Research

**Authors:** Hisaka Kurita, Junya Murata, Kazuki Ohuchi, Yuichi Hayashi, Masatoshi Inden

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/neurolint18010004 · 2025-12-24

## TL;DR

This paper reviews models of Primary Brain Calcification to understand its causes and develop treatments.

## Contribution

The paper systematically reviews familial causative genes and experimental models for PBC to guide future research.

## Key findings

- Familial causative genes like SLC20A2 and PDGFB are associated with PBC.
- Genetically modified animals and disease-specific iPS cells are useful models for PBC.
- Current models help in understanding disease mechanisms and advancing therapeutic research.

## Abstract

Primary Brain Calcification (PBC) is a neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology that results in bilateral calcifications within the brain. PBC symptoms vary, including Parkinsonian symptoms and psychiatric symptoms. Abnormalities in phosphate metabolism within the brain are hypothesized to be a mechanism underlying the onset of PBC, but the precise pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear. Furthermore, no fundamental treatment or therapeutic agent for PBC has been established. Previous studies have reported SLC20A2, PDGFB, PDGFRB, XPR1, MYORG, JAM2, CMPK2, and NAA60 as causative genes for familial PBC. Elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms of PBC and developing treatments and therapeutic agents requires appropriate experimental disease models. Knockout mice and mutant mice targeting familial causative genes have been reported to be useful as in vivo models of PBC. Furthermore, several disease-specific iPS cells for PBC have been reported, suggesting their potential utility as PBC models. This paper reviews each familial causative gene and current PBC models, including genetically modified animals and disease-specific iPS cells, and examines their usefulness for understanding disease mechanisms and advancing therapeutic research.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** SLC20A2 (solute carrier family 20 member 2) [NCBI Gene 6575], PDGFB (platelet derived growth factor subunit B) [NCBI Gene 5155], PDGFRB (platelet derived growth factor receptor beta) [NCBI Gene 5159], XPR1 (xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 9213], MYORG (myogenesis regulating glycosidase) [NCBI Gene 57462], JAM2 (junctional adhesion molecule 2) [NCBI Gene 58494], CMPK2 (cytidine/uridine monophosphate kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 129607], NAA60 (N-alpha-acetyltransferase 60, NatF catalytic subunit) [NCBI Gene 79903]

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Slc20a2 (solute carrier family 20, member 2) [NCBI Gene 20516] {aka MolPit2, Pit-2, Pit2, Ram-1, Ram1}, Pdgfb (platelet derived growth factor subunit B) [NCBI Gene 18591] {aka PDGF-2, PDGF-B, Sis, c-sis}, Jam2 (junction adhesion molecule 2) [NCBI Gene 67374] {aka 1110002N23Rik, 2410030G21Rik, 2410167M24Rik, JAM-2, JAM-B, Jcam2}, Cmpk2 (cytidine/uridine monophosphate kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 22169] {aka 1200004E04Rik, TDKI, Tyki}, Xpr1 (xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 19775] {aka Rmc-1, Rmc1, Sxv, Syg1, XR}, Naa60 (N(alpha)-acetyltransferase 60, NatF catalytic subunit) [NCBI Gene 74763] {aka 1200013P24Rik, HAT4, Nat15, NatF}, Pdgfrb (platelet derived growth factor receptor, beta polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 18596] {aka CD140b, PDGFR-1, Pdgfr}
- **Diseases:** Parkinsonian symptoms (MESH:D010302), calcifications (MESH:D002114), PBC (MESH:C536275), neurodegenerative disorder (MESH:D019636), psychiatric symptoms (MESH:D001523)
- **Chemicals:** phosphate (MESH:D010710)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12844366/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12844366